De Lima: Aguirre’s allegations are ‘fake, cosmetic’ but killings are real

MANILA, Philippines- Senator Leila de Lima said Tuesday that unlike Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s “fake and cosmetic” allegations against her, the killings are real and they continue unabated.

In a statement sent to the media, de Lima slammed Aguirre’s alleged evidence against her as “fake and cosmetics only. There is nothing into it other than that. Nothing’s authentic.”

De Lima however pointed out that what is real are the killings, which could be linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

“What is tragic is that these killings continue unabated. And the criminals including these so-called vigilantes are getting bolder, while the victims are getting younger,” she said.

According to the senator, some 20,584 minors have reportedly been exploited into drug use and peddling that the Department of Justice (DOJ) should instead prioritize investigating and prosecuting the syndicates that force these minors to go into drug pushing.

Aguirre said Monday he will ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for the authentication of bank accounts of some deposit slips to strengthen the filing of a case against de Lima over her alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

He disclosed that the money trail of the illegal drugs trade in the NBP is becoming clearer with the verification of several bank accounts gathered by his department.

To date, the department has been able to trace a corporate account where the alleged drug money was deposited. However, it has yet to establish the direct link between the drug money in the authenticated bank accounts and de Lima. PNA